Scrum V pundits on Wales' chances, disrupting Dupont and Lions

BBC News

30-01-2025

Venue: Stade de France Date: Friday, 31 January Kick-off: 20:15 GMTCoverage: Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC 5 Live; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on S4C.
On the eve of Wales' Six Nations opener against France in Paris, Scrum V The Warm-Up chats to three former internationals who have been there, done it and got the shirt.Alun Wyn Jones, Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin were on the sofa this week to discuss Wales' chances in this year's championship.Welsh fans need little reminding that Wales have lost their past 12 Tests, but head coach Warren Gatland has welcomed back some experienced heads in Liam Williams and Josh Adams.Fresh faces have also come into the coaching set-up, notably Welsh cult hero Adam Jones as scrum consultant.Roberts says it is a great appointment."It's an aura thing. He's one generation away from these players," Roberts said."A lot of these young players would have grown up watching him, and watching how brilliant he was for Wales on the pitch. "Regardless of his scrummaging excellence and his coaching, his presence around this group will be invaluable."
Paris over Principality
The combination of 80,000 passionate fans and the sheer size of Stade de France makes it one of sport's most intimidating arenas.But Wales can take confidence from their record there. They have won five of their past 12 matches away to Les Bleus, more than any of the other visiting Six Nations teams.Jones and Roberts have mixed feelings about the Paris stadium. "France on a Friday night, it's one of the best rugby experiences in the game," said Roberts."I get asked about my favourite stadium to play in the world, obviously Cardiff, the Principality Stadium is amazing. Top of the list for me, though, is the Stade de France."Jones said: "It's not my favourite stadium because it feels quite far away and when you look up it's so big."There's some young guys there who won't have experienced that."
Catching France cold
France, considered by many as tournament favourites, have been bolstered by the return of fit-again Romain Ntamack, while Antoine Dupont is back on Six Nations duty having missed the tournament in 2024.But Shanklin thinks there is no better time to play the French."We're coming into this campaign off the back of some good regional performances which will help a little bit of confidence, a little bit of self-belief," he said."You've got to cling on to the positives because if you look at the two teams, France and Wales, they are just not comparable."Part of me thinks it's the best time to play France... Sometimes you want to get teams before they get too much momentum. But it's also a tough one because we're going in cold as well."An optimistic Jones predicts Wales to win by two points."We're unbeaten in 2025," he joked, with Wales yet to play in this calendar year."It's a positive thing, it's not meant to be tongue in cheek, because as players they will want to move on as well."But Jones warned this French side are different than many in the past, in that Wales will know which which opponent will turn up. "They've got a bit more structure, they don't seem as aloof. Once they've scored they want to score again, they don't sit back," he said."It's going to be a tough ask, but it's funny what can happen."
Disrupt Dupont
The pundits agree that cancelling out the threat of Dupont at scrum-half will be key to Welsh prospects."If we can get to Dupont, legally obviously, if we can try to affect his rhythm, that will be some way of doing it," said Jones."You've got to try to tackle him, get him on the deck, as soon as he passes there is no problem having a tackle committed," added Roberts."Make sure he's a second or two slower to the next ruck."I think Wales have just got to be brave."Shanklin believes Wales also have a good chance in the aerial battle."Josh Adams, Liam Williams and Tom Rogers are all amazing in the air," he said. "I think kicking to challenge will be huge."
Never write Wales off
It is a question that pops us before any campaign - what would success be?Wales are away to France, Italy and Scotland this year, with home games against England and Ireland.Recognising that Wales are the current wooden spoon holders, Shanklin has set his sights low, targeting just the one win."If you look at last year, I think success in this campaign would be seeing a better style of attack, but the main one would be Italy away, winning one game, that's where we are."Jones, again, was more optimistic. "I think at least two or three [wins], that could be pie in the sky, but if it clicks..." he said. "It could be a difficult watch but there's players that are back and if we play the right way we could actually sneak a couple."Roberts says Wales have to target their home games. "Never write Wales off at home against England or Ireland," he said."[Cardiff] is a really tough place to come and win. I know last year Wales didn't show that, but a new year and a new opportunity."
The year of the Lions
Not that the Six Nations needs any sub-plots, but this being a British and Irish Lions year adds a little extra spice.Head coach Andy Farrell and his backroom staff will be keeping a close eye on the home nations ahead of this summer's tour of Australia."Any player who tells you they're not thinking about it, they're lying," said Roberts, who toured with the Lions in 2009 and 2013."You start looking across your peers, and looking across to other countries and think 'right I've got to up my game here'. There's always that motivation."Former Lions captain and four-time tourist Jones said he tried not to think about selection until the year arrived."You take your eye off what it is you're actually doing day to day, week to week, you can put pressure on yourself," he said."Ultimately if you're good enough you're going to be on the radar anyways."